Anyone have any additional followups to this? I just got off the phone with MiniUSA and they said they were going to investigate and get back to me. My situation is a little different in that I bought my 2013 JCW from inventory and not custom order

But that doesn't change the fact that it still should have come with them. When you build this car on MINI's website it doesn't even give you the option to build without the paddle shifters. That combined with the fact that my transmission is listed on the invoice sheet at the same price as the one with paddle shifters, tells me it should have them. I'm ready to bit the bullet on this one since it's an off the lot car and I agreed to buy it anyway. But I want to at least ask if they will replace it.

If anyone has any further information (such as a copy of a bulletin) that confirms this error in production it could definitely help when talking to Mini. Hope everyone else is getting their issues resolved.

 

Hey guys,

just thought I would share I just got a return call from MiniUSA and they confirmed with my service manager (at Alexander Mini) that these early 2013 JCW's are in fact missing the paddle shifters and that they will be doing a retrofit in the first quarter of the year. It could be another 90 day before they are available though. Anyway, it seems hit or miss who is having luck with this but he also confirmed that all service departments should have a bulletin for this so make sure you get your paddle shifters!. Best of luck to the rest of you!

 

Just comparing notes, I got the same information from MINI Customer Service around mid-January. I talked to Erin, Resolution Specialist, who also contacted the service manager for my dealer and made sure my vehicle and dealer were set up for notification. I am still awaiting any further news.

 

Does anyone know if this will include cars with the JCW interior package. I bought a Clubman S with full interior and exterior JCW packages and my wheel does not have the paddle shifters.

 

Yeah, I checked with my dealership yesterday. They have no clue. Supposively the Mini USA Rep also has no clue. Good thing I'm not holding my breath.

 

According to Mini's website, yes. If you build a Clubman S with or without the JCW interior, the only option you have for an auto is with tiptronic and paddle shifters. Any auto S model or above appears to come with them. If I make a build for a model below S, the auto does not have the paddle shifters.

 

hey i think i saw you in cdm going south down pch a few weeks back

 

That's a bummer. I would have your service manager talk to Alexander mini about the bulletin if they can't figure it out. Silvio is my service manager who is helping me. My parts have already arrived (took less than a week from when i went in) and they are installing it next Thursday. Don't let it go if you want them.

 

sounds right, probably was!

 

Thank you, I will give them a call.

 

Sorry it took so long to answer spoovy.

Last week I spoke to the person who is handling my case at MINI USA. I really expressed my growing frustration in making full car payments on a car that was delivered to me incomplete. I told her that I paid for the auto transmission and for the PADDLE SHIFTERS, I also told her that I did not think it was fair to keep making full monthly payments on a car that is incomplete. Her response to this was to give MINI until the end of March to install the paddle shifter in my car, if I did not have them by the end of the month they would replace the entire car. Since I thought this was too good to be true I had her send it over in writing, sure enough a few days later I received this:

Dear Mr. Durazo:

We appreciate your patience regarding the missing Paddle Shifters in your vehicle. I’m sorry that the delay has inconvenienced you. MINI strives to make you happy by delivering superior performance in a premium small car. Because your experience fell short of expectations, we want to regain your trust.

I reviewed your concern with our Market Team. We are optimistic that your paddle shifters will arrive by the end of March 2013. If, however, we do not meet our deadline on this we will proceed with trading you into a new vehicle equipped with your paddle shifters.

We hope this offer will help to renew your confidence in MINI.

Wishing you swift and sporty motoring,


Kind regards.

So, there is now only 2 weeks left in the month and I still haven't heard anything from them. On April 1st I will be giving them a call asking for my replacement car, in a way I hope they replace the car...I feel like a retrofit will be a patch-up job and not be the same as a JCW with paddle shifters from factory.

I will keep you posted. Hope this helps.

 

Wow. Good luck.

 

The retrofit to add paddle shifters is relatively easy, just a re-program and a replacement of the steering wheel to a wheel with paddle shifters. Once complete there will literally be no difference between your car and a later model JCW, just to let you know.

 

This sounds like a nasty issue but once again I'm lost at how the car would be signed for and driven off the lot without making sure it is complete. For most people a car is the second or third largest investment in their life. I doubt anyone took hold of their mortgage without thoroughly inspecting the house. but nonetheless, good luck and I hope MINI can reinstate their trust with the select few.

 

Well, a lot of people did take hold of their mortgage without thoroughly inspecting it. :P if people are stupid enough to do that (yes I went there), then yes people dealing with a lot in their life may be a bit too side tracked to realize their automatic car did not come equipped with paddle shifters they may not have even been aware of when the car was purchased/ordered.

It's not as if someone took delivery of their car without headlights. This is a relatively small error the factory is aware of and is correcting. Fact of the matter, 3/4s of auto JCW owners probably aren't even aware of the lack of paddle shifters. Those that do will recieve what is do.

 

Not at all unusual in the SF Bay Area right now (as in past years during a tight real estate market): http://www.sfgate.com/realestate/art...12-4356658.php.

It can get pretty crazy. People may obsess for months about which car to get but snap up a house the first day it comes on the market.

 

That's probably because most people I know that buy any car with paddle shifters usually always meant to leave it in automatic mode. Some play with it for a day or so till the novelty wears off, then leave it in automatic mode. So they don't really notice it missing right away.

I doubt a JCW is that different than any other car with that type of tranny in that respect. I don't doubt most Ferrari owners do the same thing.

 

Would be interested to hear how the April 1 call re: replacement car goes...

 

UPDATE: According to MINIUSA, a bulletin was issued on the 4th of April regarding this issue. None of the details of the bulletin were made available to me except that MINIUSA had contacted my dealer in Detroit to make them aware so they could resolve my issue. If anyone hears from their dealer or MINIUSA of the timing, it would be appreciated if you could share the details.

Thanks in advance.

 

Just a FYI... I have been following this thread, and it just so happens, I bought a 2013 JCW Clubman Automatic... and have no paddles either.

I called up Mini USA, and told them about the situation, they then called my local dealer, whom after some conversation finally figured out that this was indeed a bulliten to be done.

I am taking it in (with 220 miles on it) tomorrow morning, and after calling Mini USA again today to verify what was to be done. So, I will let you all know what happens... I told them they can either put the paddles on the car... or they can keep it and give me another Mini.

 

Got this from an email today from my dealer;
"This will take a couple days to complete, because we have to order a specific Vehicle Order software retrofit for your MINI, that is done WITH the car. At that time, a specific harness and steering wheel will be sent to us. There are other parts I can order now to expedite the process. When they come in, we will call to schedule an appointment."

 

Brought my JCW in this morning for the retrofit... they told me it would take a couple days. While I was there I told them to do any and all possible bullitens, recalls, software upgardes etc. when the service advisor ran my car through the system, it came up with a "JCW Recall"... the advisor was unclear what that was, but suspected it was for the paddles; i'll find out soon eough I guess.

As a side note, I was given a MCS auto with paddles, and I swear its faster than my JCW... maybe im just babying my new car too much

 

Thanks for the update guys. Working with my dealer now to get the parts ordered.

 

I spoke to my dealer, parts are ordered and they will let me know when they are in. I guess its out there but only if the customer calls.

 

Who ever gets their car done, post pics of the retrofit please. Want to see if the steering wheel is the same... It better be!